Keyword alerting in conference calls

ABSTRACT

A conferencing system is disclosed in which a participant to a conference call can program the embodiment to listen for one or more “keywords” in the conference call. The keywords might be a participant&#39;s name or words associated with him or her or words associated with his or her area of knowledge. The embodiments uses speech recognition technology to listen for those words. When the embodiments detects that those words have been spoken, the embodiment alerts the participant—using audible, visual, and/or tactile signals—that the participant&#39;s attention to the call is warranted. When the keywords are chosen wisely, the benefit can be great.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under the laws and rules of theUnited States, including 35 USC § 120, to the following patentapplication. The present application is a divisional application of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/688,748 filed Mar. 20, 2007, the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to telecommunications in general, and,more particularly, to new features of telecommunications systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conference calls are a mainstay of modern business life, and, therefore,the need exists for inventions that improve the quality and usability ofconference calls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the principal disadvantages of conference calls in the prior artis that they often waste the participants' time. For example, aconference call can comprise long intervals that are not relevant tomany of the participants, which leads many participants mute theirmicrophone and attend to other tasks. To the extent that those intervalsare not relevant, this is a good thing because, as a practical matter,those people can use the time for more profitable work.

The problem is, of course, that when a participant's activeparticipation becomes necessary, he or she has been pre-occupied andhave not been paying attention. This is especially true when the timingof the participation is unpredictable or unexpected. Some embodiments ofthe present invention seek to address this problem.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, aparticipant to a conference call can program the embodiment to listenfor one or more “keywords” in the conference call. The keywords might bea participant's name or words associated with his or her area ofknowledge. The embodiments of the present invention use speechrecognition technology to listen for those words. When the embodimentsdetects that those words have been spoken, the embodiment alerts theparticipant—using audible, visual, and/or tactile signals—that theparticipant's attention to the call is warranted. When the keywords arechosen wisely, the benefit of the present invention can be great.

Some embodiments of the present invention comprise: establishing a callcomprising a first telecommunications terminal, a secondtelecommunications terminal, and a third telecommunications terminal;receiving a first directive signal to transmit a first alert signal tothe second telecommunications terminal when a first keyword is spoken inthe call; detecting that the first keyword is spoken in the call; andtransmitting the first alert signal to the second telecommunicationssignal because the first keyword has been spoken in the call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components oftelecommunications system 100 in accordance with the first illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the firstillustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components oftelecommunications system 300 in accordance with the second illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the secondillustrative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components oftelecommunications system 100 in accordance with the first illustrativeembodiment of the present invention. Telecommunications system 100comprises: telecommunications terminals 101-1, 101-2, 101-3, 101-4,101-5, 101-6, 101-7, 101-8, telecommunications switch 102, and PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN) 110, interconnected as shown.

The first illustrative embodiment is switch “centric” in the sense thatall of the salient signaling to and from the various telecommunicationsterminals involves telecommunications switch 102. This is contrast tothe second illustrative embodiment, which is described in detail below,in which the salient signaling between the telecommunications terminalsis peer-to-peer and does not require a single centralized entity.

Although the first illustrative embodiment comprises fourtelecommunications terminals connected directly to telecommunicationsswitch 102 and four telecommunications terminals connected totelecommunications switch 102 via Public Switched Telephone Network 110,it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention that comprise:

-   -   i. any number of telecommunications terminals that are connected        directly to telecommunications switch 102, or    -   ii. any number of telecommunications terminals that are        connected to telecommunications switch 102 via Public Switched        Telephone Network 110, or    -   iii. any combination of i and ii.

In accordance with the first illustrative embodiment, telecommunicationsterminal 101-i, wherein iε{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, is a device (e.g. acell-phone, wireless terminal, personal digital assistant, wirelinetelephone, etc.) that is capable of performing the functionalitydescribed below and in the accompanying figure. For example,telecommunications terminal 101-i provides bi-directional audiocommunications service to a user. Although the first illustrativeembodiment comprises identical telecommunications terminals, it will beclear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, howto make and use embodiments of the present invention in which some orall of the telecommunications terminals are not identical. It will beclear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, howto make and use telecommunications terminal 101-i.

Telecommunications switch 102 is a switch that is capable of performingthe functionality described below and the accompanying figures.

Public Switched Telephone Network 110 is the Public Switched TelephoneNetwork as is well known to those skilled in the art. Although the firstillustrative embodiment uses the Public Switched Telephone Network, itwill be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention that use a different network (e.g., the Internet,etc.).

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the firstillustrative embodiment of the present invention. The first illustrativeembodiment comprises four telecommunications terminals 101-w, 101-x,101-y, 101-z, and switch 102, wherein w, x, y, and zε{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8} and w≠x≠y≠z.

At task 201, telecommunications terminal 101-w transmits and switch 102receives a request to establish a call comprising telecommunicationsterminal 101-w, 101-x, and 101-y, in well-known fashion. It will beclear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternativeembodiments of the present invention in which:

-   -   i. telecommunications terminal 101-w, or    -   ii. telecommunications terminal 101-x, or    -   iii. telecommunications terminal 101-y, or    -   iv. any combination of i, ii, and iii        request the establishment of the call comprising        telecommunications terminal 101-w, 101-x, and 101-y.

At task 202, switch 102 establishes a call comprising telecommunicationsterminal 101-w, 101-x, and 101-y, in well-known fashion.

At task 203, telecommunications terminal 101-x receives from its user adirective to alert the user of telecommunications terminal 101-x whenthe first alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call.For the purposes of this specification, an “alert condition” is definedas:

-   -   i. the speaking of a first keyword, or    -   ii. the speaking of a first keyword N times within a time        interval t₀, or    -   iii. the speaking of a first Boolean expression of keywords        (e.g., “John” and (“dog” or “cat” or “fish”), “John” and “cat”        but excluding those occurrences that also contain “food”, etc.)        within a time interval t₁        in a call by:    -   i. any one participant to the call (e.g., “Sue” but not “Steve”        or “John”, etc.), or    -   ii. any combination of participants to the call (e.g., “Sue” and        “Steve” but not “John”, etc.).        As part of task 203, the user of telecommunications terminal        101-x specifies the exact parameters of the first alert        condition (i.e., the keyword or keywords and who must speak        them). Upon the completion of task 203, the user of        telecommunications terminal 101-x puts telecommunications        terminal 101-x on mute and goes about other business than        focusing on the call.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which it is telecommunications terminal 101-w or101-y, rather than telecommunications terminal 101-x, that receives fromits user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal101-x when the first alert condition is satisfied.

At task 204, telecommunications terminal 101-x transmits and switch 102receives (i) the directive to transmit the first alert signal totelecommunications terminal 101-x when the first alert condition hasbeen satisfied, and (ii) the exact parameters of the first alertcondition. In those alternative embodiments where it istelecommunications terminal 101-w or 101-y, rather thantelecommunications terminal 101-x, that receives from its user thedirective to alert the user of telecommunications terminal 101-x whenthe first alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call,it is telecommunications terminal 101-w or 101-y, respectively, ratherthan telecommunications terminal 101-x, that transmits the directive toswitch 102 that directs switch 102 to transmit the first alert signal totelecommunications terminal 101-x when the first alert condition issatisfied.

At task 205, switch 102 monitors the call for the satisfaction of thefirst alert condition. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment,switch 102 uses speech recognition technology, in well-known fashion, tomonitor the call and detect the keyword or keywords in the first alertcondition. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make anduse a switch that can monitor a call for the satisfaction of any alertcondition.

At task 206, switch 102 detects the satisfaction of the first alertcondition, and, as a result, transmits, so that telecommunicationsterminal 101-x receives, the first alert signal. As part of task 206,telecommunications terminal 101-x alerts its user to the fact that thefirst alert condition was satisfied. In accordance with the illustrativeembodiment, the alert is any combination of visual, audible, and tactilestimulants.

At task 207, telecommunications terminal 101-y receives from its user adirective to alert the user of telecommunications terminal 101-y when asecond alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call. Aspart of task 207, the user of telecommunications terminal 101-yspecifies the exact parameters of the second alert condition. Upon thecompletion of task 207, the user of telecommunications terminal 101-yputs telecommunications terminal 101-y on mute and goes about otherbusiness than focusing on the call.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which it is telecommunications terminal 101-w or101-x, rather than telecommunications terminal 101-y, that receives fromits user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal101-y when the second alert condition is satisfied.

At task 208, telecommunications terminal 101-y transmits and switch 102receives (i) the directive to transmit the second alert signal totelecommunications terminal 101-y when the second alert condition hasbeen satisfied, and (ii) the exact parameters of the second alertcondition. In those alternative embodiments where it istelecommunications terminal 101-w or 101-x, rather thantelecommunications terminal 101-y, that receives from its user thedirective to alert the user of telecommunications terminal 101-y whenthe second alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call,it is telecommunications terminal 101-w or 101-x, respectively, ratherthan telecommunications terminal 101-y, that transmits the directive toswitch 102 that directs switch 102 to transmit the second alert signalto telecommunications terminal 101-x when the second alert condition issatisfied.

At task 209, switch 102 monitors the call for the satisfaction of thesecond alert condition. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment,switch 102 uses speech recognition technology, in well-known fashion, tomonitor the call and detect the keyword or keywords in the second alertcondition.

At task 210, switch 102 detects the satisfaction of the second alertcondition, and, as a result, transmits, so that telecommunicationsterminal 101-y receives, the second alert signal. As part of task 206,telecommunications terminal 101-y alerts its user to the fact that thesecond alert condition was satisfied. In accordance with theillustrative embodiment, the alert is any combination of visual,audible, and tactile stimulants.

At task 211, telecommunications terminal 101-y receives from its user adirective to add the user of telecommunications terminal 101-z when athird alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call. Aspart of task 211, the user of telecommunications terminal 101-yspecifies the exact parameters of the third alert condition.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which it is telecommunications terminal 101-w or101-x, rather than telecommunications terminal 101-y, that receives fromits user the directive to add the user of telecommunications terminal101-z when the third alert condition is satisfied.

At task 212, telecommunications terminal 101-y transmits and switch 102receives (i) the directive to transmit the third alert signal totelecommunications terminal 101-y when the third alert condition hasbeen satisfied, and (ii) the exact parameters of the third alertcondition. In those alternative embodiments where it istelecommunications terminal 101-w or 101-x, rather thantelecommunications terminal 101-y, that receives from its user thedirective to alert the user of telecommunications terminal 101-y whenthe third alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call,it is telecommunications terminal 101-w or 101-x, respectively, ratherthan telecommunications terminal 101-y, that transmits the directive toswitch 102 that directs switch 102 to transmit the third alert signal totelecommunications terminal 101-x when the third alert condition issatisfied.

At task 213, switch 102 monitors the call for the satisfaction of thethird alert condition. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment,switch 102 uses speech recognition technology, in well-known fashion, tomonitor the call and detect the keyword or keywords in the third alertcondition.

At task 214, switch 102 detects the satisfaction of the third alertcondition, and, as a result, adds telecommunications terminal 101-z tothe call. As part of task 214, telecommunications terminal 101-z alertsits user to the fact that switch 102 is attempting to addtelecommunications terminal 101-z to the call, the user responds, andtelecommunications terminal 101-z is added to the call. In accordancewith the illustrative embodiment, the alert is any combination ofvisual, audible, and tactile stimulants.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components oftelecommunications system 300 in accordance with the second illustrativeembodiment of the present invention. Telecommunications system 300comprises: telecommunications terminals 301-1, 301-2, 301-3, 301-4, andtelecommunications network 310, interconnected as shown.

In accordance with the second illustrative embodiment, the salientsignaling between the telecommunications terminals is peer-to-peer anddoes not involve a single centralized entity, in contrast to thesignaling in the first illustrative embodiment, which is switch“centric” in the sense that all of the signaling to and from the varioustelecommunications terminals involves telecommunications switch 102.

Although the illustrative embodiment comprises four telecommunicationsterminals connected directly to telecommunications network 310, it willbe clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification,how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present inventionthat comprise any number of telecommunications terminals.

In accordance with the second illustrative embodiment,telecommunications terminal 301-i, wherein iε{1, 2, 3, 4}, is a device(e.g. a wireless, hands-free telephone headset, desk telephone, etc.)that is capable of performing the functionality described below and inthe accompanying figure. For example, telecommunications terminal 301-iprovides bi-directional audio communications service to one or moreusers. Although the second illustrative embodiment comprises identicaltelecommunications terminals, it will be clear to those skilled in theart, after reading this specification, how to make and use embodimentsof the present invention in which some or all of the telecommunicationsterminals are identical. It will be clear to those skilled in the art,after reading this specification, how to make and use telecommunicationsterminal 301-i.

Telecommunications network 310 is the a TCP/IP network as is well knownto those skilled in the art. Although the second illustrative embodimentuses TCP/IP, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after readingthis specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention that use a different protocols.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the secondillustrative embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with thesecond illustrative embodiment, all of the relevant signaling is amongfour telecommunications terminals 301-1, 301-2, 301-3, 301-4.

At task 401, telecommunications terminal 301-1 receives from its user adirective to establish a call comprising telecommunications terminal301-1, 301-2, and 301-3, in well-known fashion. It will be clear tothose skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to makeand use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which anycombination of telecommunications terminal 301-1, 301-2, and 301-3receives a directive to establish a call comprising telecommunicationsterminal 301-1, 301-2, and 301-3.

At task 402, telecommunications terminal 301-1 establishes a callcomprising

telecommunications terminal 301-1, 301-2, and 301-3, in well-knownfashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after readingthis specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which any combination of telecommunicationsterminal 301-1, 301-2, and 301-3 establish the call comprisingtelecommunications terminal 301-1, 301-2, and 301-3.

At task 403, telecommunications terminal 301-2 receives from its user adirective to alert the user of telecommunications terminal 301-2 whenthe first alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call.As part of task 403, the user of telecommunications terminal 301-2specifies the exact parameters of the first alert condition. Upon thecompletion of task 403, the user of telecommunications terminal 301-2puts telecommunications terminal 301-2 on mute and goes about otherbusiness than focusing on the call.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which it is telecommunications terminal 301-1 or301-3, rather than telecommunications terminal 301-2, that receives fromits user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal301-2 when the first alert condition is satisfied.

At task 404, telecommunications terminal 301-2 monitors the call for thesatisfaction of the first alert condition. In accordance with theillustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal 301-2 uses speechrecognition technology, in well-known fashion, to monitor the call anddetect the keyword or keywords in the first alert condition.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which one telecommunications terminal receives (i)the directive to transmit the first alert signal to telecommunicationsterminal 301-2 when the first alert condition has been satisfied, and(ii) the exact parameters of the first alert condition, but forwards thedirective and parameters to another telecommunications terminal formonitoring.

At task 405, telecommunications terminal 301-2 detects the satisfactionof the first alert condition, and, as a result, alerts its user to thefact that the first alert condition was satisfied. In accordance withthe illustrative embodiment, the alert is any combination of visual,audible, and tactile stimulants.

In the alternative embodiments in which a telecommunications terminalother than telecommunications terminal 301-2 monitors the call for thesatisfaction of the first alert condition, that terminal, upon detectingthe satisfaction of the first alert condition, transmits, so thattelecommunications terminal 301-2 receives, the first alert signal.

At task 406, telecommunications terminal 301-3 receives from its user adirective to alert the user of telecommunications terminal 301-3 whenthe second alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call.As part of task 406, the user of telecommunications terminal 301-3specifies the exact parameters of the second alert condition. Upon thecompletion of task 406, the user of telecommunications terminal 301-3puts telecommunications terminal 301-3 on mute and goes about otherbusiness than focusing on the call.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which it is telecommunications terminal 301-1 or301-2, rather than telecommunications terminal 301-3, that receives fromits user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal301-3 when the second alert condition is satisfied.

At task 407, telecommunications terminal 301-3 monitors the call for thesatisfaction of the second alert condition. In accordance with theillustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal 301-3 uses speechrecognition technology, in well-known fashion, to monitor the call anddetect the keyword or keywords in the second alert condition. It will beclear to those skilled in the art how to make and use a switch that canmonitor a call for the satisfaction of any alert condition.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which one telecommunications terminal receives (i)the directive to transmit the second alert signal to telecommunicationsterminal 301-3 when the second alert condition has been satisfied, and(ii) the exact parameters of the second alert condition, but forwardsthe directive and parameters to another telecommunications terminal formonitoring.

At task 408, telecommunications terminal 301-3 detects the satisfactionof the second alert condition, and, as a result, alerts its user to thefact that the second alert condition was satisfied. In accordance withthe illustrative embodiment, the alert is any combination of visual,audible, and tactile stimulants.

In the alternative embodiments in which a telecommunications terminalother than telecommunications terminal 301-3 monitors the call for thesatisfaction of the second alert condition, that terminal, upondetecting the satisfaction of the second alert condition, transmits, sothat telecommunications terminal 301-3 receives, the second alertsignal.

At task 409, telecommunications terminal 301-3 receives from its user adirective to add the user of telecommunications terminal 301-4 to thecall when the third alert condition has been satisfied with respect tothe call. As part of task 409, the user of telecommunications terminal301-3 specifies the exact parameters of the third alert condition.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which it is telecommunications terminal 301-1 or301-2, rather than telecommunications terminal 301-3, that receives fromits user the directive to add the user of telecommunications terminal301-4 to the call when the third alert condition is satisfied.

At task 410, telecommunications terminal 301-3 monitors the call for thesatisfaction of the third alert condition. In accordance with theillustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal 301-3 uses speechrecognition technology, in well-known fashion, to monitor the call anddetect the keyword or keywords in the third alert condition.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which one telecommunications terminal receives (i)the directive to add telecommunications terminal 301-4 to the call whenthe third alert condition has been satisfied, and (ii) the exactparameters of the third alert condition, but forwards the directive andparameters to another telecommunications terminal for monitoring andexecution.

At task 411, telecommunications terminal 301-3 detects the satisfactionof the third alert condition, and, as a result, adds the user oftelecommunications terminal 301-3 to the call.

In the alternative embodiments in which a telecommunications terminalother than telecommunications terminal 301-3 monitors the call for thesatisfaction of the third alert condition, that terminal, upon detectingthe satisfaction of the third alert condition, adds the user oftelecommunications terminal 301-3 to the call.

It is to be understood that the disclosure teaches just two illustrativeembodiments of the present invention and that many variations of theinvention can easily be devised by those skilled in the art afterreading this disclosure and that the scope of the present invention isto be determined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving by adata-processing system a first signal, wherein the first signalcomprises a keyword and indicates that a user of a telecommunicationsterminal who participates in a conference call is to be notified whenthe keyword is automatically detected in audio data represent wordsspoken by another user during the conference call, wherein the user isnot a member of a non-empty set S of people who participate in theconference call, and wherein the other user is a member of set S; andwhen the keyword is detected in the audio data representing words spokenby another user during the conference call, transmitting by thedata-processing system a second signal to the telecommunicationsterminal to alert the user that the keyword has been detected in theaudio data.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving bythe telecommunications terminal one or more user inputs that specify thekeyword and indicate that the user is to be alerted when the keyword isautomatically detected in the audio data representing words spoken bythe other user during the conference call; and in response to the one ormore user inputs, transmitting by the telecommunications terminal thefirst signal to the data-processing system.